System and method for collecting energy from the sun

Abstract

The system for collecting energy from the sun is composed of a transparent panel having a plurality of channels open at both ends, a liquid capable of absorbing about 85-100% of the energy from impinging rays of the sun per centimeter thickness of the liquid, means for introducing the liquid into the panel and means for removing the liquid from the panel. Energy from the sun is collected by circulating the liquid capable of absorbing 85-100% of energy from impinging rays of the sun in a transparent panel which is exposed to the sun per centimeter thickness of the liquid. Heat absorbed by the circulating liquid may be transferred through the medium of heat exchanger and used to heat a building, for hot water and the like.

What I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A system for collecting energy from the sun comprising a transparent panel which absorbs substantially no energy from the sun composed of a plurality of channels open at both ends,   a liquid flowing through said channels said liquid comprising a dispersion of dark pigment particles having a particle size of about 1 mμ to about 0.1 mm., in deionized water, wherein as a result of the particle size and amount of said pigment in said dispersion, the light absorbing characteristics of said liquid are such that said liquid, flowing through said channels absorbs about 85 to 100% of energy from impinging rays of the sun per centimeter thickness of the liquid,   means for continuously introducing said liquid into one end of said channels and   means for continuously removing said liquid from the other end of said channels.   
     
     
       2. A system according to system 1 which further comprises a heat exchanger through which said liquid flows after being removed from said channels,   means for continuously transferring said liquid removed from said channels to said heat exchanger and   means for continuously removing said liquid from said heat exchanger and for continuously transferring said liquid to said means for introducing said liquid into said channels.   
     
     
       3. A system according to claim 1 which further comprises conduit means opening to one end of each of said channels to introduce said liquid directly into each of said channels,   conduit means opening to the other ends of said channels to remove said liquid directly from each of said channels,   heat exchange means connected to both of said conduit means so that said channels, said conduit means, and said heat exchanger form a closed loop through which said liquid flows,   means for measuring the temperature of the liquid in said conduits and   means for adjusting the rate of flow of said liquid in dependence of the temperature of said liquid in said conduits.   
     
     
       4. A system according to claim 1 in which said channels are up to about 2 cm. in height and up to about 2 cm. in width. 
     
     
       5. A system according to claim 1 in which said panel is composed of transparent front and rear panes and a series of longitudinal walls which join said front and rear panes and form said channels and in which the outer surface of said rear pane is provided with a coating of metallic reflective material and wherein, when said panel is in use, said front pane faces the sun. 
     
     
       6. A system according to claim 1 in which said panel is composed of transparent front and rear panes and a series of longitudinal walls which join said panes and form said channels and in which the outer surface of said rear pane is provided with a layer of insulating material, wherein when said panel is in use, said front pane faces the sun. 
     
     
       7. A system according to claim 1 in which said liquid is comprised of a dispersion of carbon particles in deionized water and up to about 80 % by weight of a nonionic antifreeze composition. 
     
     
       8. A system according to claim 1 in which said panel is composed of transparent front and rear panes and a series of longitudinal walls which join said panes and form channels which are up to about 2 cm. in height and about 2 cm. in width and in which said panel is made of ultraviolet stabilized plastic, said panel is provided with a metallic reflective coating on the outside of said rear pane, and   said panel is provided with a layer of insulating material bonded to said rear pane on top of said metallic coating, wherein when said panel is in use, said front pane faces the sun.   
     
     
       9. A method for collecting and using energy from the sun which comprises continuously pumping a liquid comprising a dispersion of dark pigment particles having a particle size of about 1 mμ to about 0.1 mm. in deionized water or a solution of colorant, through a transparent panel which absorbs substantially no energy from the sun composed of a plurality of longitudinal channels opened at both ends, so that said liquid continuously flows through said channels in a series of streams, said panel being placed so that a transparent surface thereof and the liquid flowing therein are exposed to the rays of the sun, wherein due to the particle size and amount of pigment in said dispersion or the amount of colorant in said solution, the light absorbing characteristics of said liquid are such that said liquid flowing through said channels absorbs about 85 to 100% of the energy from impinging rays of the sun per centimeter thickness of the liquid,   continuously removing each stream of said liquid directly from said channels,   continuously circulating said liquid removed from said channels through a heat exchanger,   continuously recycling said liquid from said heat exchanger through said panel, so that said liquid is circulated in a closed loop,   monitoring the temperature of the liquid removed from said channels and the temperature of the liquid which has been circulated through said heat exchanger and   regulating the rate of flow of said liquid in dependence of said temperatures.   
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9 in which said liquid is comprised of a dispersion of carbon particles in deionized water containing up to about 80% by weight of a nonionic antifreeze composition. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 10 in which said liquid is circulated at a sufficient rate to maintain substantially all of the carbon particles in a dispersed state due to the turbulence resulting from the circulation. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 9 in which said channels have a width of about 0.5 cm. to about 2 cm. and a height of about 0.5 cm. to about 2 cm. 
     
     
       13. A system for collecting energy from the sun comprising a transparent panel which absorbs substantially no energy from the sun composed of substantially transparent front and rear panes and a series of longitudinal walls which join said panes and form a plurality of channels open at both ends, the outer surface of said rear pane being provided with a black coating and a metallic reflective layer on top of said black coating, when said panel is in use, said panel being placed so that said front pane faces the sun,   a liquid flowing in said channels comprising a dispersion of dark pigment particles having a particle size of about 1 mμ to about 0.1 mm., in deionized water or a solution of dye, wherein as a result of the particle size and amount of said pigment in said dispersion or the amount of said dye in solution, the light absorbing characteristics of said liquid flowing through said channels are such that said liquid absorbs throughout its depth about 85 to 100% of energy from impinging rays of the sun per centimeter thickness of the liquid,   means for continuously introducing said liquid into one end of said channels and   means for continuously removing said liquid from the other end of said channels.   
     
     
       14. A system for collecting energy from the sun comprising a transparent panel which absorbs substantially no energy from the sun composed of a plurality of channels open at both ends,   a liquid flowing through said channels comprising a dispersion of dark pigment particles having a particle size of about 1 mμ to about 0.1 mm. in deionized water or a solution of dye, wherein due to the particle size and amount of pigment in said dispersion or amount of dye in said solution, the light absorbing characteristics of said liquid flowing through said channels is such that said liquid absorbs about 85 to 100% of energy from impinging rays of the sun per centimeter thickness of the liquid,   first conduit means opening to one end of each of said channels for introducing said liquid directly into said one end of each of said channels,   a second conduit means opening to the other end of each of said channels into which said liquid flows from said channels,   a heat exchanger through which said liquid flows and   pumping means to effect the flow of said liquid to said first conduit, through said channels, into said second conduit and through said heat exchanger at a controlled rate.   
     
     
       15. A system according to claim 14 in which said liquid is an aqueous solution of a dark colorant selected from a member of a group consisting of an inorganic compound, an organic complex, or an organic dye containing up to 80% by weight of an antifreeze composition which is substantially inert with respect to the color characteristic of said colorant.